Life-saving device for submarines



Sept. 30, 1930. H. H. STAMPE R' 1,777,184

LIFE SAVING DEVICE FOR SUBMARINES Filed June 6. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l EEJtampeZ'mvEN oR 4 ATTORNEY Sept. 30, .1930. H. H. STAMPER 1,777,184 7 LIFE SAVING DEVICE FOR SUBMARINES Filed June 6. 1928 v 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 7 l ififam aeg I INVENTOR ATTOR NEY Patented Sept. 30, 1930 flTATES PATENT OFFICE HARVEY H. STAMPER, OF LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO NORMAN W. BURGESS, 0F LEXINGTON, "VIRGINIA LIFE-SAVING DEVICE roe sUBMAnI ns Application filed June 6, 1928. Serial No. 283,377.

My present invention has reference to a life saving device, my object being the provision of a method and means for rescuing the crew of a submarine boat should the craft sink, or in any manner become dangerously disabled when beneath the surface of the water.

An object of the invention is the provision of a means for this purpose that will embody the desired features of simpiicity in construction coupled with thorough efliciency in ac tual use.

The invention will be fully and con1prehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of the application, with the understanding, however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation with parts in section, showing the manner in which the crew of a sunken or disabled submarine is rescued in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the elevator that comprises an important element of the improvement, showing the same guided toward the side of the sunken submarine prior to the attachment of the same thereto.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of a submarine showing the same provided with a normally closed manhole in accordance with this invention.

In carrying out my invention I aim to provide the sides of a submarine 1, in a line with each of the compartments therein, with a preferably inwardly bulged portion 2 that merges into an outwardly directed annular flange 3. The flange 3 is provided with preferably equidistantly spaced bolt openings 4 adjacent to its periphery, and the said flange surrounds an opening 5 that provides a manhole in the side of the submarine. Integrally formed with the flange, at the juncture with H the inwardlyflbnlged portion 2, there is'an inwardly directed ring flange 6 and secured to this flange by bolts'7, there is'a cylindrical headg8 that has on its outer face a handle 9. It is to be noted that the bolts enter from the outer side of the head 8; The bolts 7 are, of course, headed. a

' Should the submarine become disabled and sink,a signal will be given to a rescue craft 10. The craft 10 carries a closed bell 11. The top of the bell has" attached thereto a cable 12. which is wound around a drum 13 carried by the craft 10. The bell is provided with the usual airinlethose 13 through which air is pumped fromthe craft'lO' and likewiseithe bell is provided with'one or more electric lights 14; The bell, on one side thereof has an entrance opening surrounded by. an outwardly directed tubular element 16, the outer end of this element being flanged outwardly, as at 17, and being provided with bolt openings designed to register with the bolt openings 4: in the flange 3 when the-bell isarranged opposite the said flange.-

The flange 17,011 the top thereof, is formed with an outwardly directed lip 18 having an openingtherethrough that provides a guide for a directing cable 19. The diver from the craft 10 is for distinction indicated by the numeral 20.- The diver firstidescendsyand coils the: cable-19 between the flange 3 on the rounded wall which'eonnects the flange with the mentioned inwardly bulged portion-2 of thesubmarine vessel 1. The diver then signals to the craft 10 and the bell 11 is lowered. The guide" cable 19'will direct the bell so that its flange 17 is brought. opposite the flange?) and the diver bolts these flanges together. Of course,'th'e angle passage provided by the tube 16 is normally closed, and the flange 17 is provided with a compressible gasket 21 to insure a water tight connection between the elevator and the submarine, when the flanges of both of these elements are bolted together. The passage 16 which provides the entrance to the bell is formed with an inwardly directed flange 21' against whose inner face, at the side there is arranged a disc head or closure 22, the same having on its till inner face a handle 23, the said closure being secured to the flange by bolts 24. The heads of these bolts are arranged on the inner face of the closure 22. Suitable compressible gaskets may be arranged between the flange 21 and the closure 22. The tubular inlet 16 to the bell provides a means whereby the rescue-man from the craft 10 enters the said hell, it being, of course, understood that after his entrance the man securely attaches the closure to the flange 21' and that the said closure is also thus attached prior to the descent of the elevator from the craft 10.

After the bell has been connected to the submarine in a manner as previously described, the occupant of the elevator removes the bolts 24 and the closure 22. Thereafter he removes the bolts 7, and draws the closure 8 into the elevator. In this manner it will be seen that the crew of the sunken submarine may enter the bell. An occupant of the bell thereafter securely fastens the closure 22 and signals to the diver so that the latter will remove the bolts that connect the flanges 17 and 3, thereb freeing the bell from the submarine. he operator of the bell then signals to the craft so that the same is raised and the rescued men are removed therefrom. This process is repeated until all of the men in the sunken submarine are rescued.

Obviously before replacing'the closure 22 the occupant of the bell securely bolts the closure 8 to the flange 6 so that water cannot enter the opening 5.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A devlce for rescuing the occupants of a sunken submarine in which the vessel has a man-hole formed with an outwardly extending flange and provided with an outwardly opening bolted door, said meanscomprising a bell designed to be lowered from the rescue ship, said bell having an entrance opening surrounded by an outwardly directed tube having a flanged outer end provided with bolt openings to coincide with the bolt openings in the flange of the man-hole, the flange of the tube being formed with a peripheral angle extension through which a rope isguided to be wound around and to contact with the flange of the man-hole, said tubular extension having an inwardly directed annular flange,

and an inwardly opening disc closure bolted to said flange.

r In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature.

HARVEY H. STAMPER. 

